Firefighters battle Madrid blaze as thousands evacuate in France and Spain.

A wildfire near Madrid is overwhelming firefighters after three blazes west of the capital coalesced into a single blaze, Spanish officials have warned.

Spain’s government has declared a national emergency after fires raged in several areas near Madrid, prompting the evacuation of at least 30,000 people.

The president of the Madrid region, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, described it as “the worst fire in the history of the region”, the area “a perfect storm” of high temperatures, constant winds and combined fire fronts.

Meanwhile, in southwest France, more than 110,000 people have been evacuated after wildfires hit the Gironde and Landes regions.

The fire changed direction later Friday and was heading towards Bordeaux, where further evacuations were expected. French President Emmanuel Macron has mobilized the military to aid the response.

In Spain, local emergency services are moving to the municipalities of Robledo de Chavla and Fresnedillas de la Olivia, about 50 km (31 miles) from the capital, he said.

Carlos Novillo, head of the Madrid regional government’s emergency management, told reporters: “The fire is at an advanced stage and is currently beyond the capacity of firefighters to control.”

“It is not possible to attack the fire in that area, so preventive measures are being taken,” he said.